Self-assisting apparatus for invalids



J. F. COOLEY.

SE LF ASSISTING APPARATUS FOR INVALIDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4 19l8.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Quorum J. F. COOLEY.

SELF ASSISTING APPARATUS FOR INVALIDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 19I8.

1,350,297, I Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/ awvawboz WzY/zesxes 6 \f 71 6 600 Z 10 UNITED STATES JAMES F. COOLEY, OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-ASSISTING APPARATUS FOR INVALTDS.

Application filed September 4, 1918. Serial No. 252,589.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. CooLEY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Richmond, in the county of Contra osta and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Assisting Apparatus for Invalids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to invalids lifting devices and more particularly to an apparatus for use by invalids to facilitate raising themselves to a sitting position or moving the body to any preferred position without the assistance of an attendant.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple device adapted to act as a carrier for the invalid and be arranged so that one arm may be employed to cause the elevating mechanism to operate for lifting the apparatus whereby the body may be lifted and turned in any preferred manner.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the preferred embodiment and inthe .accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote like or correspond ing parts throughout the several Views, in wine 1I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device as it appears in use.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the method of raising the device after the body has been comfortably placed in a desired lying position.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a body support, and

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the head rest.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, throughout the several views, the beam A indicates any beam at the ceiling of the room above the bed or couch of the invalid. Attached to the beam A is a sheave of a block and tackle which may be.

of any preferred construction, but preferably consists of the ordinary chain and block adapted to be actuated by a pull chain B. To the hook C of the block and tackle I have attached the diverging chains 1 and 2, the ends of which support a suspension bar 3 which has its ends notched as indicated at 4 to receive the rings 5 carried by the ends of the chains 1 and 2 whereby the bar 3 may be suspended from the hook C by the chains 1 and 2. The body supporting member 6 comprises a heavy sheet I of canvas or other suitably material which Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A 24 192() i are provided with large rings 9. This band is adapted to come beneath the body to act as a seat for the occupant as shown to advantage 1n ig. 1, this portion of the canvas support receiving the greater portion of the strain. Attached to each ring 9 is a'snap hook 10 to which is connected 2. chain 11 extendlng upwardly and attached to the ends of the bar 3. The endmost rin 7 are also connected by snap hooks to a 12 which is passed through the rings 5 at the ends of the chains 1 and 2. The rings 7 intermediate the ends of the support 6 may also be engaged by hooks and cables if deslred to support the intermediate portions of the body if a patient of larger size is using the device. The head rest 14 shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings is constructed of a rectangular piece of suitable canvas, the corners of which are each provided with a ring 15 adapted to be attached by cable 16 to the rings 5 through the medium of connecting snap hooks 16 and also by snap hooks 15 to the ring 7 whereby the invalid or patients head is held in proper position. With this arrangement it will be observed that the operating chain B is extended in a position whereby it may be conveniently grasped by one hand of the user and after the chain is pulled the body will be lifted to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the person may assume a sitting position if desired without the assistance of an attendant. When returning to a lying position as shown in Fig. 2, the device may be lowered until the invalid or patient is lying down, all of the supporting elements being released and only one side of the supporting sheet 6 being connected to the suspending element. Then by pulling the operating chain B the operator may cause the support 6 to be lifted or pulled from beneath his body while he remains in the same desired position.

It will be obvious that other suspending devices may be attached to the device when the injuries are such as to warrant careful handling of the invalid. One of these attachments is illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing comprises a sling 17 adapted to reexible cable ceive the leg of the user, the end of the sling being provided with a loo 18 to which a cable 19 is connected, this ca le being extended upwardly to be engaged with the supporting hook C of the b ock and tackle, to maintain the users leg in an elevatedposition at all times and injurythereto is thus prevented. It will be obvious that both legs may be engaged in this other attachments ma be connected to the supporting structure or the purpose of assisting the user in making himself comfortable without the attention of the usual attendant.

It will be noted especially that there are two fabric supports, each of substantially rectangular formation so that the body and head of the invalid is comfortably supported. The important feature in this regard, lies in the provision of a single bar 3 so connected by the flexible element with the fabric support as to cause the supports upon which the invalid rests to be properly held so that their marginal edges are not drawn too firmly toward each other thus permitting the invalid to rest .comfortably and at the same time be held in a position whereby the block chains may be manipulated to raise and lower the apparatus. The single bar, therefore, connected to the four corners of each rectangular supporting member gives comfort and efficiency to the device.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the preferred or approved form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims, Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described including a body supporting sling, a separable head piece associated therewith, a suspenmanner and various tachably associated therewith,

ble connections between the head piece and the stud bar, other connections between the outer ends of said sling and said bar, hoistmg means attached 'to said bar for raising the 51mg to an elevated position, said sling adapted, during elevation to so incline itself in accordance with the weight of the person carried thereby as to bring the head piece in a plane above the body of the sling. 2. A device of the character described including a sling composed of a main body supporting member and a head piece decoupling rlngs affixed to said supporting member and said head piece at appropriate places, hoist chains adapted for suspension above said sling and connected together at one end, a supporting link carried at the free end of each of said hoist chains, a suspension bar removably supported between the said chains with its outer end encircled by said supporting links, said bar disposed to hang transversely of the sling adjacent the head piece thereof, connections on each side of the sling and head piece and between the coupling rings thereof and the overhanging supporting links, the connections with the head piece being substantially shorter than the connections with the main supporting member by reason of the prokimity of the said transverse bar thereto, whereby the said head piece will be drawn upwardly from a horizontal to an inclined plane during elevation of the said sling, all of said connections being of a detachable character to permit release of said sling partially or entirely from said hoist chains.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

JAMES F. COQLEY. Witnesses:

ETTA CooLEY,

STEPHE THOLE. 

